Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14781, Edward Gearing, Mass.

(-17-)
SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass
Hearing, Edward Nally
Nr. 14781
CONTENTS

Massachusetts . . . . . 1163.
Molly Gearing.
widow of Edward Gearing, dead.
who died on the 14 February, 1805; of Essex co. in the State of Mass. etc. who was a private in the Com. Y. commanded by Captain B. Dodge. of the Regt. commanded by Col. L. Baldwin, in the Mass. etc. line for 1 year 8 mos. pri.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts, at the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of July, 1837 and sent to Wm. Ferson, Gloucester, Mass.
Arrears to the 4th of March, 1837 $399.96 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 33.33
$433:29
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d . }
Recorded by S. A. Elliot Clerk, Book A. Vol. 1 Page 51.

V1166
marries apl. 71
vol. 14. p. 82 - not on Roll Instead got on for some pri from Kilsfield on - " " " claims for 10 mo. - This is my error; should have been 20 mo. Reg. Bm. in 1805 - 210 m. in 1710
The roll shows that the company - had 4 clergy -
adm'd 20 mo. pri $66.66 pr. an m
No deduction. died 1805
Anderson Esq Gloucester Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss.
On this fourth day of January, 1837, personally appeared before the Hon. David Cummins, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for said County, Molly Gearing, a resident of Gloucester in the County of Essex and State of Massachusetts, aged eighty six years (being unable to attend in Court by reason of bodily infirmity) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4, 1836. That she is the widow of Edward Gearing, who was a Sergeant in Captain Barnabas Dodges Company of Massachusetts troops in the war of the Revolution and that he served for a period of at least sixteen months; and that she has no documentary evidences to prove his service
That he resided in said Gloucester when he entered the service and continued to reside there until his death
She further declares that she was married to the said Edward Gearing by the Rev. S. Chandler on the fourteenth day of April, Seventeen hundred and seventy one; that her husband the aforesaid, Edward Gearing died at Gloucester on the fourteenth day of February Eighteen hundred & five and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Molly her X Gearing mark
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before me, the said Molly Gearing by reason of her advanced age and bodily infirmity being unable to attend Court.
David Cummins J.P. C.C.P.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. I John Prince Clerk of the Judicial Courts within and for the County of Essex certify that the Hon. David Cummins is a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas & that his signatures to the annexed papers are genuine.
Witness my hand & the seal of said Court of Common Pleas at Salem this thirteenth day of January A.D. 1837
John Prince Clk

Edward Gearing Jun. and Molly Raw were married April 16 th 1776 By Rev. Sam l Chandler Minister of first Parish in Gloucester.
A true copy from records of the Town of Gloucester
Attest W m Saville Town Clerk
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Jo.
I William Ferson. Notary Public for said County certify that William Saville, who signed the preceding certificate is Town Clerk of Gloucester; that he has charge of the records of said town; that full faith ought to be given to his acts; and that the above is his genuine signature
William Ferson, Not y Public
I William Kitfield aged 80 years, a native of Manchester, Essex County & State of Massachusetts, late of Sedgwick, Maine, on oath testify and say that on the first of June, 1775 I enlisted as a private in Capt. Barnabas Dodges Company in Lt. Col. Loami Baldwin's Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry, then stationed at Chelsea, to serve eight months. That I continued in said service in the same company to the 31 December, 1775 and was stationed during said time at Chelsea, where we remained till after the British evacuated Boston in 1776. The Regiment had been at Chelsea nearly a month when I joined it, as I was informed. When I joined it, Edward Gearing of Gloucester was there then in the capacity of Sergeant, I was well acquainted with him during my service in 1775 and personally know he served to the end of the year 1775
In the early part of January, 1776 I again enlisted as a private in said Barnabas Dodges Company in Col. Loami Baldwin's Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry to serve one year and did serve there in to the end of the year 1776 & was discharged. Then served by voluntary engagement at Gen. Washington's request six weeks longer. Some time after the British evacuated Boston we marched to Rhode Island; thence to New York; thence to White Plains; thence to various places in New Jersey; and was in the year battles of Trenton and Princeton. During the year 1776 and all of said year I served under said Edward Gearing who was our Sergeant. I distinctly remember him and to my knowledge he served as Sergeant the whole of the year 1776 when he was discharged
William Kitfield
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex Jo. June 16 th , 1857. Then the above named William Kitfield personally came, in my presence subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above written declaration; and I certify that said Kitfield is well known to me as a credible witness.
Witness my hand and Notarial seal
William Ferson, Not y Public

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex, Js. June 16, 1837 Before me a Notary Public for said County personally comes William Saville, Town Clerk and makes oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed, he being a credible witness William Terson, Noty Public
tax,

Revy  WIDOW, &c.  Cur
File No. 14781
Molly Gearing Widow of Edward Gearing Prv. Serv. War
Act: July 4 th 1856
Index:—Vol. 1 a , Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]

attended to -
Molly Gearing two
May 22
Express Mail Maps 36- no 1163
Found in room No 108, in looking over a map of old papers
James L. Edwards Esq.
Map 1836
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Glocester, Me. 17 May, 1837
Sir,
Yours of the 10th inst. with the papers of Susanna Haskins, Patience Sears & Hannah Marchant have been rec d . for informality.
On the 30th January I sent you the papers of Molly Gearing, Dorothy Adams, Jerusha Rust, Ann Poland & Hannah Morgan; and on 6 March the papers of Elizabeth Elwell, all of which, I believe, are authenticated as those returned & are informal.
If so, please to return them, to be authenticated properly.
Respectfully yours
William Ferson

I Joshua Gott of Gloucester State of Massachusetts aged 82 years on oath testify, that in the war of the Revolution, Capt. Barnabas Dodge raised a company in this town; that I, with others enlisted therein; that I enlisted some time in the early part of May, 1775 as a private in S d Dodge's Company in Col o Baldwin's Regiment of Massachusetts troops, marched to & was stationed at Chelsea, and served to the end of the year, when the term of our enlistment expired. That before the year expired, I agreed to enlist again. On 1 st January 1776 I again enlisted as a private for one year in S d Dodge's Company in Hutchinson's Regiment, marched to New York & staid there till they took it. Then I went to New Jersey and served till February 1777: that I was in the battles of Trenton and Princeton.
That Edward Gearing named in the annexed declaration of Hollis Gearing was my townsman, who, in the year 1775 joined Capt n Barnabas Dodge's Company, in Col o Hutchinson's Regiment in the month of May - that he was our Sergeant in said Company and served as such therein to the end of the year 1775 when his time expired and was regularly discharged. I was intimately acquainted with S d Gearing & know he served as long as I did in 1775 in s d capacity of Sergeant.
That according to the best of my recollections said Gearing enlisted again at the beginning of the year 1776 into Baldwin's Regiment for one year and served to the end of s d year, as I verily believe; but do not recollect in what capacity he served. And I firmly believe he served in said Regiment all the year 1776.
W m Ferson
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Essex ss. On this sixth day of January Eighteen hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared the above named Joshua Gott, who in my presence signed the above affidavit, who by reason of palsy with difficulty writes, and made oath to the truth of said declaration; and I certify that said Gott is well known to me as a credible witness before me William Ferson, Not y Public

both of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts We Solomon Row, aged 83 years and Deborah Row, aged 80 years, on oath testify, that all our lives we have lived near neighbours to and have been intimately acquainted with Edward Gearing and Molly his wife named in the declaration to which this is annexed. That in the war of the Revolution we rec d ever of his going into the army; of his being absent about sixteen months; and of his returning from the army; and believe he served as stated by his widow Molly in her declaration. That said Edward Gearing died at Gloucester on the fourteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and five since his death his widow Molly has lived within twenty rods of our house; that we know her to be the widow of said Edward Gearing; that she has remained the widow of said Edward since his decease and has not since intermarried
Witness to the signatures
William Ferson
Edward Withers
Solomon his Row Deborah mark Row
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, Js. On this sixth day of January, Eighteen hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public for said County the above named Solomon Row and Deborah Row and in my presence subscribed and made oath to the above written affidavit. And I certify that I am well acquainted with said Solomon Row and Deborah Row; and that they are well known to me as credible witnesses
Witness my hand and Notarial Seal this day and year above written
William Ferson, Noty Public

I William Sayward of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts aged 71 years on oath testify, that I was well acquainted with Edward Gearing, named in Molly Gearing's declaration, during his life time; that in the Revolutionary war I know that said Edward Gearing was a Soldier in the Army of the Revolution  Revolution ; that I remember of his being absent in the army some time and recollect him well; and said Gearing was always reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution, in which opinion I concur.
William Sayward
I John Wesson of Gloucester, State of Massachusetts aged 57 years on oath testify that I was well acquainted with Edward Gearing, above named; and in his life time heard said Gearing tell of his being in the army of the Revolution- the  Revolutionary war ; that he was in the battle of Trenton when the Hessians laid down their arms; and of Genl. Washington's saying if the soldiers did not enlist again, the country was ruined. Said Gearing has been reputed and believed to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, in which opinion I concur.
John Wesson
Essex, ss. January 9th. 1837
Before the subscriber, a Notary Public, personally came William Sayward and John Wesson above named, and made oath to the truth of the afore written affidavit by them subscribed, who are known as credible witnesses. Witness my hand
William Ferson, Not Public

M rs Mary Francis Nash.
James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D.C.
Stamp for 4 3/4
7.33 \frac{1}{2} 2. 6.66 \frac{3}{4}
3.33 20 6.66 \frac{2}{3}

Glocester, Ms. June 17th. 1837
James L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of Pensions,
Sir,
I enclose the application of Molly, widow of Edward Gearing properly authenticated as directed by your letter of the 16th ultimo.
The claim is now supported by two credible witnesses having personal knowledge of his service
I now correct a mistake made in my letter of the 31st January last in which she "claimed 16 months service". It was intended and should have been 20 months, giving $80 per annum allowance.
Respectfully, I am Your obed t . serv t . William Verson